Kool & The Gang says there's no age limit on cool

By Belinda Goldsmith

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - In trademark shades and wide-collared open shirts, Kool & The Gang claim there is no age limit to being cool as the group returns with a new album.

The group that formed in New Jersey in 1964 and has gone through several musical phases over the years, ranging from jazz, to rhythm and blues and funk, to disco, is releasing its first studio album in 10 years this week, called "Still Kool."

Two of the four original band members, Robert "Kool" Bell, 56, and his 55-year-old brother Ronald, said the group has moved on since its 1980s hits like "Joanna," "Celebration," "Get Down On It" and "Jungle Boogie."

Ronald is also known by his Muslim name Khalis Bayyan.

After largely falling off the public radar in the 1990s, the group is hoping a new generation of young musicians that has joined the band's 12-man line-up -- including Robert Bell's son Hakim and 23-year-old singer Jirmad Gordon -- will bring the group new success.

They spoke to Reuters about their long career and staying cool:

Q: Why a 10 year gap in albums?

A: RONALD - "The inspiration comes when it does. We've been touring and thinking about this but you have to wait until the inspiration comes and then comes the opportunities. The content, some of it, is very timely to the situation that is going on the world."